Frank Ocean - Channel Orange //
“What was your favourite part?” A workmate inquired about my recent trip home to Oz.
One might think a typical answer would include “sunshine, family, the beach” etc. Well…
1) The sun greeted me with 3rd degree burns within four hours of my arrival.
2) Family time is great, but is always accompanied by a heavy dose of Christmas dysfunction, which perhaps has nothing to do with Christmas at all.
3) The ocean is full of life-threatening predators that you suddenly become more aware of after moving to a city where your biggest threat is peak-hour travel using public transport.
No, this holiday was filled with a different kind of ocean after an encounter with a handsome gentleman who informed me of the following:
“Frank Ocean is a poet and a story-teller.”
Turns out he was as wise as he was handsome.
This might be old news to fans of Ocean’s work in hip hop collective Odd Future (OFWGKTA). He has also penned songs for Justin Beebs and John Legend, among A-list others. Over the past year MV has featured Ocean’s mixtape releases and collaborations, praising his originality and fresh R&B fusions.
Last year saw Ocean’s solo studio debut with “Channel Orange,” from which came the single “Pyramids” (see above) - a 9+ minute tale of a modern pimpers paradise fitted with a John Mayer guitar solo outro.
Another favourite is “Lost,” which I played on repeat for my entire 45 hour journey back to London, and still can’t get enough of it. Get yourself addicted here.
All in all, I think I need to return home for musical enlightenment more often. Just have to remember to pack more sunscreen.
